10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
78,419 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2005 Toyota Tacoma electrical problems

electrical problem

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2005 Toyota Tacoma Owner Comments

problem #16

Jan 072022

Tacoma

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My problem was associated with the air bag warning light. It came on and so I took my truck to Big Two Toyota in Chandler AZ. Dealer said I had a faulty clock spring assembly that will prevent the air bag system from functioning properly and was a major safety risk.... So I let Dealer remove and replace it for $511.82. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN SAFETY RECALL.... Please look into this issue for me and other Toyota Tacoma truck owners. Thank you.

- Casa Grande, AZ, USA

problem #15

May 152017

Tacoma

  • 120,000 miles
Blower motor only works on high. Sometimes speed od. Doesn't work, sometimes it does. Speed od. Reads about 5 miles per hour fast. Gauges pause for about 10 sec. Before working when I first start truck. All started around 120,000 miles.

- Van, WV, USA

problem #14

Mar 122014

Tacoma

  • 150,000 miles
Around 150,000mi the fan blower only works on high speed (low and medium don't work). On very rare occasions, all fan speeds work fine. Tried changing the fan resistor but it didn't help.

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

problem #13

Oct 072016

Tacoma

  • 120,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Every time I turn the ignition to start my engine the gas gauge takes about 15 seconds to respond. Most frequently than not, the speedometer and the coolant gauge do not work when the vehicle is in motion. When I get to my destination and turn off the engine, and restart, the gauges work (sometimes). I asked the dealer about it, and they claim there is no recall for this problem, and it would cost $1000 to replace the main harness that is causing the problem. The tachometer, and the odometer work just fine. I do feel this is a safety issue, considering sometimes I do not know what my speed is, or if my engine is getting to hot, and over heating, causing damage to it. I've been a Toyota truck owner since 1987, and this is my second truck. Your vehicles are very dependable, and I hope you can resolve this problem. Please keep informed on this matter, I would appreciate it. Thanks for your time. Don

- Hemet, CA, USA

problem #12

Sep 302016

Tacoma

  • miles
When using air condition or heating it does not go on unless you step on a button located on the passenger side floor which then the unit will regulate and turn on. You can feel a click when you press it on the floor don't know why this is.

- Hamilton Twp, NJ, USA

problem #11

Jun 012010

Tacoma

  • 90,000 miles
Short in the button to turn the cruse control on sometimes it works but I have to push it at least 200 times. The second thing is a short in the over head compas/temperature gauge it just does not work any more.

- Lehi, UT, USA

problem #10

Jul 082010

Tacoma

  • 91,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My stereo changes stations on its own I don't know if it's in the buttons in the steering wheel or the actual stereo itself.

- Lehi, UT, USA

problem #9

Sep 272015

Tacoma 4WD 4-cyl

  • 138,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start occasionally. The vehicle would lose power and fail to accelerate when depressing the accelerator pedal. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the wire harness failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 138,000....updated 02/08/16

- Lakewood, FL, USA

problem #8

Sep 212015

Tacoma

  • 165,339 miles
I was driving, from my work try to open the window and I can not open I stop, something smell burn, was my driving side door, windows were lock, my truck were looked, I can not open doors, I drove to my mecanic he broke the window, a lot smoke inside my truck, ok, I went out, and it cost me $1200.- to fix, well change everything inside. Thanks I live in lomita ca.

- Lomita, CA, USA

problem #7

Jun 272014

Tacoma 6-cyl

  • 12,098 miles
Took our 2005 Toyota truck into the Toyota dealer for a check engine light P0333. They said that it was a cable that was previously replaced by another Toyota dealer due to rodent damage. Since the car only has 2000 miles since that repair and a total mileage of 12,000 miles we found it unbelievable that they would quote us a "discounted" rate of $2,318 to repair the cable again. We told them that we did not want to spend this much money on a car that only had 12,000 miles.the car got repaired at a fraction of the cost they wanted and it turned out that they had not tightened down the intake manifold and unplugged a sensor on startup. Their cost to repair with a supposed 8 hour discount was $2318. The eventual cost from a normal mechanic was $374. It should have been less but the extra time to correct their errors cost more money. On the internet there are many owners of this same type of vehicle complaining about this type of damage being caused by rodents eating into critical wiring. Wiring that cannot be repaired without the Toyota dealer charging $3000 plus for labor. This is a scam. It would be easy for the Toyota engineers to fix this cable so that it could never be eaten by anything again. Also my mechanic and others have asked "why do they eat this cable and no others in the same area"? they are obviously making the wire coating out of materials that attract the rodents to it. This is a cash cow repair for them and they are not about to make it so that the rodents do not eat it. A normal mechanic charges $374 to repair this problem versus $3000 for the dealer! this is professional robbery through design and should be investigated from a federal stand point. I have all of the paperwork and the cable that is in pristine condition except for the eaten away end if your department would like to examine it.

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #6

Jul 132011

Tacoma 4-cyl

  • 105,711 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Spiral cable, air bag, steering column, charged $609.82 by dealer to repair, was in other repair shop this week, heard another cutomer complain of same problem, also had 2005 Toyota Tacoma. Every single light came on, on the dash, scared the living daylights out of me. Manual says take immediately to dealer. What a rip off.

- El Dorado, CA, USA

problem #5

Apr 242011

Tacoma

  • 70,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that the vehicle would not start. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where the technician stated that the ignition switch and cables would need to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 70,000.

- Miami, FL, USA

problem #4

Feb 122010

Tacoma

  • 79,000 miles
Blower motor fan speed selector switch illumination has quit working and also the outside temperature display on the front passenger roof has quit working.

- Lake Elsinore , CA, USA

problem #3

Mar 262009

Tacoma 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 98,146 miles
I bought my 2005 Tacoma about 2 months ago. I have experienced this problem three times now. The last time being tonight after picking up my daughter at work. The truck was accelerating and I was literally standing on the brake and the engine was racing and would not stop. I through it into neutral and it sounded like it was going to explode! I have no rugs in my vehicle, it did not come with any, and I was going to get the all weather mats, but have not bought them yet. The cruise control was not engaged. I do consider myself to be a fairly experienced driver, I use to race a 70 chevelle in the 1/4 mile (this was many years ago.), if I did not have such experience I am sure I would have ran the car up a tree or something. I am scared, I have beat cancer twice and I'll be '!@#$% if I am going to let a faulty Tacoma take me out!

- Manchester, NH, USA

problem #2

May 012006

Tacoma 4WD 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 10 miles
I just read a similar complaint and I wanted to file my story. My 2005 Tacoma's speedometer has been reading approximately 7 miles per hour faster than actual. I couldn't figure out why so many cars were passing me on the highway when I was doing around 65! I checked it by following my wife in her car and also compared against mile markers. I took to the dealer and they hooked it up to the diagnostic computer and found nothing wrong - they said there was no fix. It is unsafe to drive when you don't know how fast you are really going plus the condition shortens the life of the factory warranty (36,000 miles) because the odometer is recording more miles than actual.

- Mystic, CT, USA

problem #1

Mar 032006

Tacoma 4WD 6-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 15,400 miles
: the contact stated while the four wheel drive was shifted from four wheel drive high or low, the vehicle will not always shift. The four wheel drive light illuminated and the audible alarm stating the vehicle has not shifted came on. An additional 5 attempts were needed after the vehicle was moved. The technical representative from the manufacturer drove the vehicle and determined this was normal operating conditions. Also, when the outside temperatures were below zero degrees the keyless entry would not unlock the vehicle. The dealership tested the key fob and replaced the battery, but this did not repair the problem. Updated 3/22/2006 -

- Hot Sulphur Springs, CO, USA

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